The Replacements-Tim “Let it Bleed” edition

[pocaloc]

I’ve talked on OSG before about the album Tim and my thought, as well as others on OSG, that if Tim had been produced in the manner of Let it Be that I would consider it one of the best albums of all time. Maybe that’s overstating it. It’s a great album as it is but the raw, ragged power of the Replacements is smoothed out and neutered. The drums are wimpy and buried in the mix. Anyway “Left of the Dial” came up as a single on Spotify as the Ed Stasium mix. It sounds amazing and much more like the Let it Be album. Turns out they’re re-releasing it as the Let it Bleed edition. I’m excited.

[stevejamsecono]

Yeah I'm admittedly very curious to hear this myself. I haven't been on a Replacements binge for awhile but Tim tends to rear its head every October or so.

[pocaloc]

The new mix of Left of the Dial is available on spotify. I've compared it and definitely the drums are way more prominent in the mix. The guitars are more ragged. I think Tim is a great album. All the songs are great to good, the sequencing in great. However I far prefer Let it Be just because that album gets me charged up. Tim is boring and is has everything to do with the muted down to be radio friendly production. I don't know why I'm getting so excited about this.

[sal paradise]

I just downloaded Qobuz & setup lossless streaming to my hifi using the WiiM mini.

This track sounds awesome! Wow, always felt let down by the production of Tim. It’s a great album but lacking some balls. Always assumed you had to be there to love it.

Now, yes! Great remix.

*Edit*
Just looked at vinyl options. So far only a 4cd/1lp box set in the us for $90

Also, now someone needs to give Husker Du this treatment

[pocaloc]

I have it in my cart at Rhino. I think I'll pull the trigger.

[countertext]

I just pulled that track up on Apple Music. It really is a better mix, and I kinda like the bad original mix. I’m looking forward to the rest of the album now.

[marqueemoon]

I can’t say I’ve ever been into The Replacements, but listening to those two mixes back to back was fascinating.

[pocaloc]

I actually like the original mix of Left of the Dial too. It has an atmosphere to it. The album in general has some songs with great energy that I think will really benefit from this new more raw mix. I’ve read criticism about the production referring to the fact that Tommy Erdelyi is a drummer and would produce an album with such a weak drum sound. I always liked Tim but I primarily listen to Let it Be even though Tim is a stronger set of songs IMO. Again, I know I’m repeating myself, but it’s due to that great Replacements energy that is mostly missing, or at least tamped down. It sounds sort of like their is a blanket on it is an okay way of describing it.

[stevejamsecono]

I'm in agreement with what's been said here. The original mix of Tim is definitely a vibe and tends to get played alongside the later 80s Pretenders albums when I'm in the "I want to feel sad about being in my late 30s" mode. A more raw, rawkin' Tim might be more fun.

[marqueemoon]

Not to derail the discussion, but I would LOVE for the Wipers catalog to get this kind of treatment.

[pocaloc]

Not to derail the discussion, but I would LOVE for the Wipers catalog to get this kind of treatment.

I agree. There are a few albums I would like to see get this treatment.

[burpgun]

For my money, the only Replacement albums that sound like the band got the sound they wanted were All Shook Down and Pleased to Meet Me. The rest are great songs mired by compromised recordings, either from bad mixes or over production. The recent remixed version of Don't Tell A Soul, which they called Dead Man's Pop, was a big improvement, so I'm excited to see what they do with Tim.

Makes me wonder what state Husker Du master tapes are in. I'm a decent sized Bob Mould fan and Sugar fanatic, but the Husker Du mixes are to my ears so bad--those drums!--I've never been able to get into that band.

And finally, I wonder what Paul Westerberg is doing these days.

[pocaloc]

I do like Dead Man's Pop and think its an improvement on Don't tell a soul. I do think Let it Be sounds great though, it's one of my favorite albums of all time. Have you heard Live at Maxwell's? The energy of the band is captured on what I've found is a rare great recorded performance. Bastards of Young has the power it deserves as compared to Tim.

I've been trying to watch interviews with Paul Westerberg. Nothing from real recent but I found that he had a project going with Juliana Hatfield.

[Tehz_]

I've dreamt of a new Tim mix for years and years - it's my favorite Mats album and the mix is easily its worst trait - but man, that new Left of the Dial sounds just awful, if you ask me

It's actually making me wonder if the original mix was actually that bad lol

[pocaloc]

I just listened to both mixes side by side loud in my car. I definitely like the new mix. I will say that certain songs on Tim sound good with the more atmospheric mix like Left of the Dial and Swingin' Party and a few more. The real rockers will really benefit with a more raw sound. I just listened to Bastards of Young on the original mix. Seriously when the rhythm section kicks in it has absolutely no power. The drums actually sound like an '80's era cheap keyboard drum sound. While I like the original mix of Left of the Dial, I'm really appreciating this raw take on the song where you can really here the feedback on the guitar, etc.